Garment hanger



Patented July 9, 1946 YUNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE GARMENT HANGER SamuelCohen, Newton, Mass. Application November 26, 1943, Serial No. 511,825

4 claims.4 l(c1. 22a-91) This invention relates to the art of garmentsupporting devices. More particularlyV it pertains to hangers adapted toprovide a positive gripping function. ments, the invention is directedto garment hangers which are especially effective for supporting skirts,trousers and the like in vertical position in order to minimize anytendency to wrinkling or form distortion. A

Hanger devices in substantially universa1 usage at the present time forvertically suspending skirts, trousers and similar apparel are in'considerable measure dependent upon metal'stock, principally wire, forfabrication, especially since their intrinsic structural designhasrelied'upon the inherent resiliency characteristics of .metal forattaining the desired'iunction.

While these hangers lhave. afforded generally satisfactory service,Ythey have beenlargely deL void of esthetic significance, and the typespreponderantly used have not been free from functional objections. For.example, the simpler hanger structures, which are by farin greatestdemand, have been limited in their gripping function to two restrictedpoints or comparatively narrow zones, and have not afforded anyl meansfor variation of these gripping'poin'ts commensurate with the dimensionofthe'garment,` such as the cuffs of the trousers or the waist band ofa, skirt. Attempts to obviate this limitation have resulted in undulyinvolved structures as opposed to the desired simplicity and attendantsturdiness.

In its preferred embodi- Moreover the dependency of the clamping type ofh'anger upon metal stock for manufacture has per se 'been a source ofsubstantial difficulty, since it is well recognized that circumstancesfrequently prevail whichv result in a scarcity of metal supplies, andthis has accentuated the desirability of an effective supportingdevicethat is free from metal requirements in its details of construction.Despite the desirability for non-metal clamping hangers, the difcultiesembodied in their manufacture have resulted in few, if any, ecientdevices of this type.

It isy an object of this invention to obviate such difficulties anduncertainties as hereinabove indi-`v cated. l

Another object is to provide a device for supporting garments which willmanifest a. gripping or clamping function commensurate with thedimension of the garment at the Zone ofsupport. I

` An additional object of the inventionis .to-attain a garment hangerparticularly effective for suspending skirts, trousers, et cetera byuniform bers;

, '2 grippingn function, variable in accordance -vvith the dimension ofthe garment along the line or zone of support, exemplified by a skirtWaist band ror trouser cuffs.

lAn important object is to produce a clamping type skirt or trousersIhanger which is free from metal in its fabrication.V Y

A further object is to obtain a non-metal skirt or trousers hanger whichaifords a substantial Zone of gripping function, the Zone beingsusceptible to variation commensurate with the d'imension of the garmentat the zone of support.

An added object is to devise a non-metal garment supporting device whichis comparatively f (invention will become apparent from the followingdescription read in connection with the accompanying drawing in whichsimilar elementsu are designated by like numerals: I

Fig; l is a side elevation of garment hanger constructed in accordancewiththe present invention, and shown gripping the waist band ofa skirt,indicated in fragmentary portion;

Fig. 2 relates to a cross sectional View taken along the line 2-.-2 ofFig. 1,; Y

Fig. 3 presents a bottom plan view of the garment hanger shown in Fig.1, revealing the coordination of the clamping members;

Fig. 4 provides a fragmentary elevation of a desirable end structure forthe clamping mem- Fig. 5 represents a cross section viewed along line5-5 of Fig. 3, embodying one modification of the end structure for theclamping means;

Fig. 6 indicates a cross sectional detail of a locking or vclampingbutton taken on the line 6 6 o-f Fig. 1; k

Fig. 7 sets forth in fragmentary side elevation,

y a modified hanger structure with seats provided in the slot forlocking engagement with the clamping button;

` vinvention embodied inthe modifications shown bythe various figures ofthe drawing, the hanger device of Fig. 1, generally designated as I0, is

illustrative of a desirable embodiment of the invention. It comprises abody portion I I, I I', desirably arcuate in form, provided with slotsl2, I2' which follow the contour of the body portion and are preferablypositioned approximately midway between the edges I3, I3 of the bodyportion. As shown, two 'slots I2, I2 are provided, one on each of therespective sides of body portion I I, I I', with the suspension hookportion of the hanger positioned between the slots, 'I'here is howeverno lintent to be :restricted 'to these details of construction, sincethey are intended to be primarily by way of exemplification and notrestriction.

Thus slots I2, I2 may in fact be combined toa single slot by omittingthe structural A.material between them shown in Fig. 1. On the otherhand, alternative Idetails of design may result in more than the twoslots I2, I2 shown.

The function of slots I2, I2' is in effect that of guide means forclamping buttons III, I4' which facilitate the gripping action ofclamping imembers '21, 22 on :garment Il', as'will be further ap parentfrom the additional consideration hereinbelow. An effective length for'slots I2, f2" may be approximately defined as that extending betweeneither designating line I3 or I9" Yand end portions I8, I8 respectivelyof the hanger. It will be noted that .the hanger 'body area I6 betweendesignating lines I9, I8 broadly determines the 'base portion of thesuspending hook'20, and that the end portions I8, I8 embrace portions ofthe hanger spaced Ifrom the somewhat downwardly directed extremities I5,I5. However, .as previously suggested, the length of the slots issubject to variation `pursuant to predetermined ydesign orcontemplation.

The suspension hook is ,appropriately .positioned relative to the centerof gravity of the garment hanger asa whole in a manner to `maintain astate of balanced equilibrium especially when the hanger is carrying.its .garment load.

In accordance with a desirable lembodiment of hanger construction, i-tmay be manufactured from two complete, integral sections A, B which areappropriately laminated together, as will be apparent from Figs. .2 tandA3. Thus these sections should be symmetrical in every ldetail in orderto permit precise overlapping of .all of their respecn tive partsincluding suspending hooi: 2l) and the arcuate body portions II, IIembracing slots I2, I2', clamping members 21., 22, end portions I8, I8and .edges I3, I3". The actual .zon-e of attachment of A to B,designated as 23 desirably embraces the complete 'suspending hookportions 20, including the area I5 which coincides with .the bodyportion of the hanger between designating lines I9, I9'.

The manner of attachment between sections A and B may .be throughappropriate adhesive composition cr by resort to any mechanicalexpedient, including a nailing together of the specified parts or byYinterlocking or interfitting them. Accordingly the body portions of A.and B extending from either` designating line I9 or I8' to theextremities I5, I5 respectively are essentially unattached, and.determine .the clamping members 2I, 22 between which the garment issustained. Differently stated, while the Aarea between designating linesI9, I9', embracing body portion I6 and the complete suspending hook 26,are securely attached to each other in any predetermined manner, thegripping portion of the hanger embracing clamping members 2|, 22,including the arcuate portions determining slots I2, I2 are notpermanently aixed to each other, although they are substantiallycontiguously positioned. By this structure the clamping members 2I, 22manifest a spring-like ccaction relan tive to each other, with thesupported article, such as the skirt, gripped in the space between them.

In the structural modification embraced by Figs. 3-5, the end portionsIt, I8' of clamping members 2l, 2,2 may be pro-vided with a wedgesegment ,24 which is attached by an adhesive or in any desired manner.The function of this wedge means, if utilized, is primarily toaccentuate the clamping action in this area. However 'an-effectivegripping function is attainable lw' h- :out resort to any auxiliaryerredient's such as wedge segments 24, since the thickness of thegarment being supported is sufficient to utilize the inherent springcoaction between the clamping members for effective gripping function.In Fig. 9, there isshown a bottom plan view .of a hanger structure whichAhas proven quite satis:- factory without the inclusion of any wedgemeans such as that shown in Fig. 3.

A desirable 'expedient `for attaining efficient gripping action on thegarment, quite irrespective of the details of structure at the endportions I8, I8 of clamping members 2I, 22, is the provision of surfacegrooves 25, as indicated in Fig. 4. It will be seen that as the garmentis clamped between members 2I, 22 provided with grooves will be at leastsuperficially wedged in these grooves, lwith the result that an enhancedgripping action is attained.

The extent of grooves 25, both Vwith respect to their inherentdimensions and to the proportion of clamping member surface which theyembrace, is subject to variation within .the dictates of predetermineddesign rand discretion. Similar to the showing of Fig. 4, it is withinthe contemplation of the disclosure to provide clamping members 35,

36 .of Fig. V9 with gripping grooves c'f expedient extent and dimension,if so desired.

A desirable modification of locking means is presented Ain Fig.V 6wherein 'the clamping button is provided with an integral pin of varieddimension comprising cylindrical ends Y26 and an enlarged intermediatesection 21, which may be of substantially ovate form, thereby minimizingthe tendency of the pin to rotate in slots I2, I2'. There is no intenthowever to be limited to any specic form of pin design, and anequivalent inhibitory effect upon rotation may be attained throughresort toa substantially rectangular pin section in lieu of the ovateYform of section 21. The heads or .caps-of clamping buttons 'I4 maybeaixed to the cylindrical ends .25 of the pin .in .any expedient manner,such as by utilizing an adhesive or by mechanical means, exemplified bywedging the .head on the pin, or by vresort to nails or screws. lnassembling the clamping button in its slot I2, I2 the pin will desirablybe positioned in the slot prior to affixing at least one of the caps tothe cylindrical end thereof.

The clamping button .28, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, represents a simplifiedform of ylocking means, the pin 29 being of uniform cylindrical shape.The .manner in which `the head -or cap of clamping button 28 may beseated on pin 29, as well as the details of assembly rrelative to theguide slot 34, of the khanger body 33, within which the clamping buttonis seated or positioned for sliding movement to facilitate the grippingfunction of clamping members 3|, 32, may be attained in any eX- 25,incremental portions of the garment pedient'manner such as thatsuggested hereinabove inthe consideration of the clamping member ofFig.6.

Fig. 7 comprises a modification of the hanger structure presented inFig. 1, to the extent that positive locking features betweenthe clampingmember and its guide slot are contemplated. Thus the fragmentary bodyportion 33 embraces guidev slot 34, the lower edge of which is suppliedwith a plurality of notches 30 within which the locking button 28 maybepositioned at predetermined intervals. The form in which notches 30occur may be subject to variation, it being merely desirable that rtheycorrespond with the i shape of the clamping button pin in order toresult in a seated engagement. By way of illustration, the notches 30 ofFig. 7 areexpediently semi-spherical in order to appropriatelyaccommodate cylindrical pins 29 of clamping buttons 28.k

As previously described, Fig. 9 is drawn to a fragmentary elevation ofya simplified clamping member structure which has performed quitesatisfactorily. Clamping members 35, 36 .provide uniform internalgripping surfaces 31, 38 that are free from Iwedge segmentsoranalogouselements, such as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5.V Desirablysurfaces 31, 38 mayhave grooves similar to those presentedon Fig. 4, tothereby facilitate the gripping function ofthe clamping members underthe inuence of clamping'buttons 39.

While the construction of an optimum embodiment of garment hanger fromsymmetrical, laminated'sections is quite expedient, there is nointent tobe limited to this manner of article production. suggestive of analternative manufacture, the garment hangerv may be attained byappropriately cutting a unitary Vpiece of stock material havingsufficient dimensions in accordance vwith the v.predetermined pattern,to satisfy the body portion of the hanger and the guide slot. Thesupporting hook may likewise be cut from the same piece of unitarystock, if it is suiiicient to provide this member as a part of theintegral structure; on the other hand, the hook portion of the hangermay comprise a separate member,

fabricated from the same or differentstock relative to the body portion,andris attached to the said 'body portion in any feasible manner. 'I'hehook member may be of metal, wood, synthetic resin or plasticcomposition, or other material and designedV for attachment to thehanger body, as by resort to screw threads or other means.

In any event, the body-portion obtained from la single piece of materialis slit either completely or partially, along a line substantiallybisecting the width of the hanger body, designated as C' in Figs. 3 and9. The depthV to which the slit extends may desirably be through thecomplete thickness D of the body portion, although an operative devicemay be obtainable by slitting the body portion less than its thickness,but suicient to provide the requisite clamping members. As for thelongitudinal extent of the slit along the hanger body, it may `desirablyembrace the length between the hanger body extremities, such as I5, I5and the designating lines I9, I9 as shown by Fig. 3. This termination ofthe longitudinal extent of the slit is .particularly desirable in themodification where the slit projects through the entire thickness D ofthe hanger body.

Where the stock utilized is susceptible of molding, as in the case ofsynthetic resins or plastic compositions, the structural features of theinvention may be substantially directly attained by molding the materialas a unitary structure.

The arcuate form of body portion with the a` horizontal plane, therebydownwardly directed ends, as in the vcase of Fig.

portions; under some conditions, this modification would afford anenlarged zone of gripping contact between the clamping members and thegarment. By way of further illustrative modiiication, the body portionmay extend entirely in differentiating from the arcuate type of Fig. 1.

Concerning the material stock from which the hanger may be made, this isnot to be treated as of critical significance, although certainmaterials result in a more ,effectively functioning devicethan others.The features of construction'embraced by the invention lend themselvesparticularly Ato the manufacture of- .garment hangers from non-metalmaterials, including wood, cardboard, and plastics, especially of thesynthetic resin typefbut this is not to be taken as precluding theconstruction of desirable hangers by utilizing metal stock. An optimumembodiment has been considered to be the wooden hanger of laminatedconstruction in accordance with the description hereinabove in view ofits facility of manufacture and effectiveness of performance.

A 'quite effectual device is also obtainable by laminating together, kasdescribed hereinabove, symmetrical hanger sections molded from synthetieresin to provide an integral structure. Any desirable manner may beresorted to for attaching the sections to each other in the appropriateareas; where the resins manifest any thermoplastic characteristics,heating may be utilized to attain the requisite attachment.V Aspreviously indicated, a one piece or unitary structure of resin orplastic composition fabrication embodying the skirt hanger featuresshown is within the contemplation of the disclosure; this may be f madeby cutting a unitary piece of stock material device, it will be notedthat in accordance with the preferred structural embodiment as shown byFigs. 1-3, the clamping members 2|, 22, manifest a spring-like functionrelative to 'each other between the extremities of the hanger and thedesignating lines I9, I9', the zone I6 involving the permanentattachment of the laminations to each other, functioning as the pivotalarea for the said spring-like characteristics of the clamping members.As shown in Figs. 3 and 9, there is a slight tendency for the clampingmembers to .be somewhat spaced apart in the direction proceeding fromdesignating lines I9, I9 respectively, to the hanger extremities I5,I5', thereby facilitating the introduction between the clamping membersof the garment to be clasped.

With the clamping buttons in a position proximate the respectivedesignating lines I 9, I9' and desirably at the end of the guide slotsI2, I2 the trouser cuffs or waist band of the skirt may be insertedbetween clamping'members 2| .22, and the buttons I4 are then slid intheir guide passages I2, I2' toward the extremities I5, I5 respectivelyof the hanger. This movement of the clamping buttons I4 serves to lockthe garment between the clamping members, the garment being wedged inthe internal grooved surfaces of the clamping members to attain maximumgripping function.

In the modicatlon of Fig. 7, the clamping buttons 28 assume a lockingengagement with the appropriate notch 34 'into which they are forcedtofseat for coordinating theV gripping action of vclamping members 3|,32; otherwise this modiiication functions in essentially the same manneras Ythe hanger of Figs. 1-3. Similarly the modification of Fig. 9functions in a manner analogous 'to the device of Figs. 1-3.

In `View of the lpotential gripping zone extending 4substantially fromthe respective designating lines 19, I9' tothe hanger extremities, itwill be seen that the garment hanger of the invention lends itself tothe support of the garments of varying dimension, while at the same timeaiiording a substantial area of actual clamping contact. Diierentlystated., the gripping zone is susceptible 'to variation commensuratewith the dimension of the garment at the zone of support.

While the various gures of the drawing are directed to features of skirthanger structure comprising optimum adaptations of the invention, itwill be understood that these showings are primarily illustrative inscope and are not to be taken by way of restriction or limitation.

Pursuant to the invention, a novel, compact, esthetic garment hanger isattained which is simple but sturdy in details of construction andeffective in its performance. Although these devices are particularlyadapted for use as skirt or trousers supporting means, they areapplicable to sustaining of other types of articles.

While I have described my invention in accordance with desirableembodiments, it is obvious that many changes and modications may be madein the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofparts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined inthe following claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim-2 l. A garment hangervcomprising 'abody portion determining a pair of complementary clampingmembers, a supporting hook extending upwardlyv from said body portion,and means vfor providing a gripping function between saidclamping-members, said latter means'being movable along aguide slotextending lengthwise within said body portion. I

2. A garment hanger comprising complementary clamping members integrallyattached to each other at portions intermediate their ends, a supportinghook extending upwardly from said integrally attached portions` andmeans adapted for movement and positioning lengthwise of said clampingmembers for forcing said clamping members into a clamping association.

3. A garment hanger comprising complementary clamping members integrallyattached to each other at portions intermediate their ends, a supportinghook extending upwardly from said integrally attached portions, guideslots intermediate the edges and extending longitudinally of saidclamping members, and means for forcing said clamping members into aclamping association, said latter means being movable along said guideslots.

4. A garment hanger comprising complementary clamping members integrallyattached to each other at portions intermediate their ends, a supportinghook extending upwardly from said integrally attached intermediateportions, guide slots extending lengthwise of said clamping membersbetween said integral intermediate attached portions and the endportions of said vcomplementary clamping members, and means movable insaid slots for coordinating said clamping members to provide a clampingfunction.

SAMUEL I. COHEN.

